Drug Tariff News

8th February 2023 - Source: Amanda Chell

DHSC has published the January (Q4) Category M price adjustments.

These are calculated to deliver the remainder of the £50 million of the additional £100 million agreed across years four and five as part of the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework. Prices are calculated according to underlying market prices and the result of a community pharmacy margin survey.

In detail, there are 45 deletions and two additions:

Benzoyl peroxide 5% / Clindamycin 1% gel 30
Benzoyl peroxide 5% / Clindamycin 1% gel 60

This brings the total number of lines in Category M to 624.

DDA analysis shows that there are 263 lines with increased prices, 17 of which are more than doubled in price. In addition, there are 336 lines with decreased prices, 30 of which are down by at least 20 per cent

DDA members can view the full analysis including top five % price rises and falls, and a spreadsheet  sorted by price, price history, price change by visiting the online Category M Updates Archives.

Reference DDA website

Additions to Part 2

11 items have been added to Part 2 of the January Drug Tariff.

Ones which I think you would find of interest are:

  • Fresubin Energy Fibre tube feed liquid unflavoured
  • Metolazone 5mg tablets
  • Peptamen tube feed liquid unflavoured

Items which fall into part 2 generally have no wholesaler discount and so you would be dispensing at a loss.  Therefore, these are items which you may consider sending the prescription to a local pharmacy.

Deletions to Part 2

Only 3 items have been deleted from Part 2 of the January Drug Taruff but  DDS would like to bring to your attention to the deletion of FreeStyle Libre Sensors. Any prescriptions submitted for these from January 2023 will be disallowed.

Additions to Part 8a

7 items have been added to the January Drug Tariff- ones which I think you will find of interest are:

  • Docusate 100mg/5ml oral solution sugar free has gone into the Drug Tariff as a Category C item with the reimbursement price based on Lucis Pharma Ltd. Please shop around as there are some differences in purchase price.
  • Metolazone 5mg tablets has gone into the Drug Tariff as a Category C, reimbursement price based on Xaqua. Currently only seems to be available through Alliance and PSUK. This product is also falling into Part 2 of the Drug Tariff so potentially no Wholesaler discount.
  • Nebivolol 1.25mg tablets this has gone into the January Tariff as a Category A with a reimbursement price of £51.15. This can be purchased for a little as £39.00 so nice healthy profit.

Deletions to Part 8a

20 items have been deleted from the January Drug Tariff- ones which I think you will find of interest are:

  • Exenatide 2mg powder and solvent for prolonged-release suspension for injection prefilled disposable devices more commonly known as Bydureon. This was discontinued in April 2022.
  • Lidocaine 200mg/10ml (2%) solution for injection ampoules has been removed from the January Drug Tariff. This was more commonly known as Lidocaine Mini-plasmo.
  • Oxybutynin 10mg and 5mg modified-release tablets have both been removed from the January Drug Tariff. These were more commonly known as Lyrinel XL. These were discontinued in August 2022.

Items which have been removed from the Drug Tariff part 8A can still be prescribed and dispensed but you will need to endorse the prescription with manufacturer, pack size and price paid.

Other Changes to Part 8a

69 items are listed in ‘Other Changes.

DDS would advise reading ‘Other Changes’ for January to ensure nothing is missed. A number of items have moved from a Category M to a Category A or a Category A to a Category C and the reimbursement price has generally increased. This is all down to a reflection of pricing of generics in the market place and the huge number of generics which have been above tariff for a number of months.

However, below are  a few items which you may find of interest:

  • Benzoyl peroxide 5% / Clindamycin 1% gel – 30g and 60g- both pack sizes have moved from a Category C with the reimbursement price based on Duac to a Category M and the reimbursement price has dropped significantly. Please take care when purchasing this one as although this is now generically available, the generic is above tariff price.
  • Macrogol compound oral powder sachets NPF sugar free has remained as a Category C but the reimbursement is now based on CosmoCol at £4.72. This is an interesting one as last month the reimbursement was £4.29 and based on Laxido. Laxido on DMD is still listed as £4.29 but purchase price from all 3 wholesalers is £4.72. DDS would advise prescribing generically to ensure the reimbursement price of £4.72 is achieved.
  • Co-beneldopa 50mg/200mg capsules – this is sitting in the Drug Tariff as a Category C with the reimbursement price based on Madopar. This is still the case but many of the strengths have had Special container rules added.

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